Live Oak/Milstar Complex and Carpet Service Center Fire - (LaGrange, Georgia - January 31, 1995) » LaGrange Fire Department

The LaGrange Fire Department is divided into Suppression and Administrative Divisions, each commanded by a Deputy Chief. The Suppression Division operates three engine companies, a truck company and a rescue company out of three stations using a three platoon (battalion) system of 24 hours on and 48 hours off. Engines 1 and 2 and Truck 11 are each normally staffed with an officer and three firefighters. Engine 3 normally has an officer and two firefighters. The rescue company’s normal staffing is an officer and one firefighter. Typical department strength is 17 on-duty personnel. There are three reserve engines maintained by the department.

The Administrative Division consists of the Fire Prevention Bureau, Public Education staff, Training function, and the Supply and Maintenance group. The Fire Prevention Bureau is also responsible for fire investigations. One member of the Public Education staff also fills the role of Public Information Officer during incidents such as this. Maintenance and Supply includes within its responsibility the maintenance and testing for the fire hydrants in LaGrange.

The normal response to a report of a structure fire is two engines, the truck company and the rescue company. The Deputy Chief of the Suppression Division will also respond during usual business hours and to confirmed fires outside this time. Engine 2’s quarters are the closest to the Live Oak Complex and would usually be the first unit on the scene. At the time of the fire, all on-duty units were at Station 1 for drill and training.

Emergency medical service is provided by a separate service through contracts with the county. The ambulances are located at the hospital rather than in city fire stations. An EMS unit reportedly responds with the fire department to structure fires.

Radio frequencies used by the LaGrange Fire Department are a city-wide dispatching and operations frequency and a lower powered fire ground frequency. The Troup County Fire Department uses a different dispatching and operations frequency. Most city and county fire units reportedly could use any of the three radio frequencies. There were no reports of radio traffic congestion resulting in difficult or lost communications.

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